James 4:10-12

While the word "gossip" is not found in the King James Version of the Bible, the idea is certainly included in such words as backbiting, evil speaking, and whispering. And it goes without saying that the practice is uniformly condemned.

To gossip means to reveal information about another person that is designed to put him in a bad light. In other words, the information is mean or unkind. Usually there is the element of secrecy or confidentiality; the person doing the gossiping would...

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord; that is, humble yourself truly; for his eye is as a flame of fire; and no mere pretense of humility will pass current with him. He does not ask you to conceal your pride from the observation of men, but to mortify it. He does not ask you to be humble merely in your addresses to him; for he is ever with you.

In order to humble yourself, know yourself. Pride grows in the atmosphere of falsehood. It is only by dint of lying that a soul...